Building block and wall.



UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. KIDDER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN; MENTS, TO JOHN ALBERT FERGUSON, or DENVER, COLORADO.

' BUILDING BLOCK AND WALL;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,094, dated October 20, 1903. Application filed February 24, 1903. Serial No. 144 888. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known'that I, FRANK E. KIDDER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building Blocks and Walls; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in building blocks and walls, my object being to provide blocks of the character indicated having the appearance of cut or sawed stone, but at a greatly-reduced cost as compared with stone.

My further object is to provide blocks capable of forming hollow walls which are sufficiently strong, durable, and permanent for all practical purposes and at less cost in labor, as the blocks are lighter and thereforemore easily handled than those of solid stone.

Having briefly outlined the invention, I will proceed to describe'the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective view in detail of one of my improved blocks. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall built up of the said blocks. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing a few blocks assembled in starting a wall. Fig. dillustrates a curved wall composed of the blocks. Fig. 5 shows a special partition block with a perforated metal plate or wire-netting embedded therein. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a wall, showing a corner extending at an angle different froma right angle.

The same reference characters indicate the same partsin all the views.

Let A designate the standard block, whose extremities are provided with right angle arms or projections A and whose centralportion is provided with an interior shallow recess R of sufficient width to receive the extremities of two angle parts A When the blocks are assembled in a wall, as indicated in the drawings. The mortar employed in the wall construction is placed in this recess, whereby the blocks are securely bonded together in the wall. The manner of constructing a wall of these blocks A is clearly shown in the drawings. The wall must be two blocks thick,so that it may be smooth on both sides; but the thickness may be regulated as desired by making the parts A longer or shorter. In the construction of the wall the angle parts A are all turned inwardly, and two of these parts engage the mortar in the recess-Rot the block. on the opposite side.

In order to keep out moisture and damp, waterproof paper, felt, or other composition P'may be placed between the ends of the right-angle parts'or arms A and the body of the opposing blocks. (See Fig. Half blocks B, having but one arm or angle part, should be employed at the end of the wall. (See Fig. 2.)

At the corners blocks 0 are used havi-n angle-arms of unequal length. Tie wires or rods T are preferably placed on top of the blocks at the ends and corners and overlap the parts, whereby the blocks are securely bonded together at these points.

The special partition-block E (shown in Fig.

5) has two right-angle arms or projections E,

and in this block is embedded open sheet material, preferably composed of metal, and may consist of a perforated plate, expanded sheet metal, or wire-netting, which is embedded in the block by placing it in position at the time the block is formed.

In forming corners having angles diderent from a right angle blocks F having one angle arm or part F extending from their body portion at an angle different from aright angle may be employed. (See Fig. 6.)

These blocks, Whether for use in walls or partitions,'inay be molded or formed from concrete, plaster composition, terra-cotta, or

any other suitable material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A wall or partition comprising buildingblocks A composed of suitable material as described, said blocks having'angular projections at their ends, building-blocks 0 having unequal angular projections at their opposite ends, building-blocks B having angular projections at one end only, the said blocks being arranged side by side in the courses of the wall with their projections extending inwardly and lapping over each other, whereby a bond for all courses and finish for all corners is produced, the main portions of the blocks forming the facings of the wall, spaces being left between the blocks.

2. A wall composed of building-blocks having arms or projections extending inwardly from their extremities, and a central interior recess formed in the back of the block, the wall being formed two blocks thick, and the arms or projections of two blocks on one side of the wall entering or engaging the central recess of the block on the opposite side of the wall, and suitable waterproof material 10- oated between the ends of the right-angle arms and the body of the opposite block for the purpose of preventing the passage of moisture or dampness.

3. A wall composed of building-blocks having arms or projections extending from their extremities, and a central recess formed in the back of the block on the inside, the wall being formed two blocks thick, and the arms or projections of two blocks on one side of the wall entering or engaging the recess of the block on the opposite side of the wall.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. KIDDER.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN. 

